[mou] Krider's Red-tailed Hawk

[drewbec@aol.com]

This bird has actually been present at this location for a few weeks. I 
frequently drive past this area in the morning, and have seen the bird 
numerous times at approximately 8:00-8:15am. It often sits in the trees 
between the northbound on-ramp and I-35, but does use other perches as 
mentioned. There is plenty of room to pull over on the on-ramp and 
study the bird, if you're fortunate enough to catch sight of it before 
getting on the interstate. I agree it is an beautiful example of this 
subspecies or form. As far as speculation on how long it will remain in 
the area, I recall another Krider's that did overwinter a few miles 
east of this location, near Gun Club Lake, about 5 or 6 years ago. So, 
who knows, it may stay.

Drew Smith
Eagan, Dakota County



-----Original Message-----
From: dbmartin@skypoint.com
To: mou-net@cbs.umn.edu
Sent: Sun, 12 Nov 2006 9:51 PM
Subject: [mou] Krider's Red-tailed Hawk

    A juvenile or subadult Krider's Red-tailed Hawk has spent at least 
the last
two days and we understand a few earlier days at the Black Dog Road 
exit off
of 35W.  It was easiest and safest to see from either the north bound or
south bound entrance ramps, depending on which side of the road it was 
on.
We saw it on both sides at different times.

This bird is probably the purest Krider's that we have ever seen.  Its' 
tail
is predominately white with thin black bands.  The head as well as most 
of
the underparts are white.  The back is speckled black and white with 
very
little brown on the bird.  We think it is most likely a subadult and 
not a
juvenile because of the lack of brown and since it still has the thinly
banded tail.

Although there is a lot of white on this bird there is no true albinism 
that
we were able to see.  It compares very favorably with the photos in 
Brian
Wheelers "Raptors of  Western North America".  We suspect that this bird
will not stay here long, even though it appears to be successful in 
hunting,
as most Krider's winter south of Missouri and Kansas in east Texas and
Louisiana.

Be very careful looking at this bird.  This highway as you all well 
know is
very busy.  We would not stop on the highway to look at this bird at 
all,
but would only use the much slower moving on ramps.

Also seen today was a subadult Golden Eagle migrating past Lake Byllesby
into Goodhue County.  Lots of Bald Eagles, both adults and juvs, were
migrating everywhere.  The Black Scoter was still present on Byllesby 
today
as well at two additional Black Scoters were on east Black Dog Lake
yesterday.

Dennis and Barbara Martin
dbmartin@skypoint.com


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